E3 2013 predictions that are likely and far-fetched

It’s the Xbox One, left controller, and PlayStation 4, right controller, that will regenerate most of the headlines at E3 2013.

With E3 a few hours away, I want to go on the record with my predictions. There have already been leaks and confirmations this week. Thanks to an early copy of Game Informer, fans know that Respawn Entertainment’s new franchise will be called Titanfall. More recently, Microsoft confirmed details about its upcoming Xbox One, including the fact that yes it will play used games and will need an Internet connection once a day.

Despite these surprises, I’m sure there’s going to be more than one megaton announcements. Let’s look in crystal ball and see what else is in store for gamers during the show.

LIKELY TO HAPPENPlayStation 4 will have a similar used games policy to Microsoft. Sure, the Xbox One caught a lot of heat with the convoluted way it introduced sharing games and purchasing used ones. But if the market has anything to say about it, expect a similar publisher-driven fee structure for preowned titles. The companies who put out games don’t want to lose money, and if Sony takes that revenue flow off the table, they may miss out on games. Then again, Titanfall is reportedly an Xbox One and PC exclusive and there may be a reason for that.

The Last Guardianwill be announced. Honestly, that’s all I want from the PlayStation 3 this year. If Fumito Ueda’s long-awaited game comes out this holiday season, it’d be a perfect sendoff for the system.

Don’t expect all your questions about next-gen systems to be answered. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that game companies like to drag out reveals. They want to let tidbit of information dribble out slowly so that they can keep the console and games at the top of mind. At E3, we’re likely going to get a look at the actual PlayStation 4 console and we’ll see Xbox One’s exclusive games, but the prices on titles (Will they stay the same or go higher to $69) and hardware will likely not be available. Sony and Microsoft will announce those details at other game expos down the road.

THIS MAY HAPPEN
I don’t have any idea why there’s so much vitriol for the Xbox One. If Apple decided to come out with it and called the console the iGame or the new AppleTV, there’d be a meltdown of hype right now. I suppose it’s expectations. But thinking along those lines, I do think Microsoft may announce a deal with cable companies or satellite providers to bundle the Xbox One with Internet/TV service similar to what the Apple did with the iPhone and AT&T when it first came out. It’d be a perfect way to lower the perceived cost of the system and solve that Internet-connection issue. The TV feature that turned off gamers may even make this more appealing to the mainstream.

Can you have more than one Call of Duty in a year? This could happen. Sledgehammer Games hasn’t been quiet since Activision stole Dead Space creator Glen Schofield away from Electronic Arts. Other than the help they provided with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 not much has been heard from them. I’ve always wondered what the Foster City-based studio has been working on. Perhaps, we’ll find out at the show.

Capcom announces a new Darkstalkers. The fighting genre has never been stronger. Every time I expect it to start declining as it has done in the past, it proves even more resilient. (See the success of Injustice: Gods Among Us). If Capcom follows the pattern, it has one more fighting game to revamp and that’s its monster-themed fighting game. I expect the same 2.5D treatment as Street Fighter IV with a super special edition to follow a year after.

UNLIKELY TO HAPPEN BUT I WANT IT TO
Hideo Kojima reveals a new Zone of Enders. Yeah, I know this is unlikely but I always wanted a next-gen version of this mech title. It’d be fun to see, plus the re-release of the two PlayStation 2 games in HD gives a new generation of players some familiarity with the series.

Shigeru Miyamoto announced a new franchise. Let’s face it, the Wii U isn’t doing too well. To keep the console from suffering the same fate as the Dreamcast, there needs to be some drastic action. Perhaps a console price cut and a new Zelda/Mario/Metroid would help. That’s all fine and good but what I’m really hoping for is something fresh from the maestro. Miyamoto hasn’t come out with a new franchise in ages. Does he have one more game up his sleeve? What are his hobbies right now? Whatever it may be Nintendo and the Wii U may need the legendary game designer to come through one more time.

AND WHAT WILL BE THE GAME OF THE SHOW?
I want Bayonetta 2 or The Last Guardian to kill everything out there but I have a feeling that there may be a surprise RPG or shooter that will blow people out of the water.

Gieson Cacho

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More than one Call of Duty per year? One/year is already one too many.

Thomas Gregory

First prediction about used game policy officially countered by Sony. Not being able to understand the vitrol about the Xbox1 used game policy well after the fact also not a good sign of having a firm handle on the variables needed to make accurate early predictions.